Faking It with Ariel and Morgan

Ariel Leigh Cohen & Morgan Smith

Two intimacy coordinators reveal what actually happens behind the scenes of film and TV's most iconic intimate moments. We're Ariel and Morgan, two professional intimacy coordinators who choreograph sex scenes for film and TV. We pull back the curtain on how intimacy is really made—from the awkward logistics to the craft that makes it look effortless. On Faking It, we break down: Heated Rivalry: the back arch, the bed share, and why good gay sex wins over hockeyThe hottest no-contact scene in cinema history (Secretary)Why Brokeback Mountain's tent scene needed more lubeThe invisible Buffy sex scene that required flawless pantomimeBarbarella's orgasm machinePEN15's honest depiction of teenage arousal Get behind-the-scenes secrets, absurd Hollywood stories, real talk about love and sex, and a front-row seat to the art of pretending. New episodes every week. Subscribe now so you don't miss the next breakdown. Catch us on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and all podcast platforms. Follow usInstagram & TikTok: @FakingItThePodPatreon: bonus episodes and scene requestsWebsite: FakingItThePod.com

  1. 5d ago ·  Video

    The Invite: Consent, Chemistry & Couple Swapping

    The Invite (2026) intimacy scene breakdown: intimacy coordinators react to Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton's sexy, cringe swinging comedy. This week on Faking It, intimacy coordinators Morgan Smith and Ariel break down The Invite (2026), Olivia Wilde's A24 comedy about a married couple, Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde), whose upstairs neighbors Piña (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) invite them into something far outside their comfort zone. It's one of the most deliciously awkward sex scenes we've covered, and we're here for all of it. We're talking: Why authenticity can be more valuable than instant chemistryWhat happens when one partner's ready to go when the other is notHow characters' personalities can continue when scenes get spicyThe psychology of kink, control, and surrender in a sex sceneWhether this scene really needed an intimacy coordinatorThe Scene: 1:13:05 About the film The Invite (2026) is directed by Olivia Wilde, written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, and distributed by A24. It's an English-language remake of Cesc Gay's 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs (Sentimental). It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026, opened wide July 10, 2026, and is streaming on digital platforms now, with HBO Max to follow. Subscribe to Faking It  for behind the scenes breakdowns of the most iconic sex scenes in film and TV from two working intimacy coordinators. New episodes every other week wherever you get your podcasts. Comment below with what movie or TV intimacy scene should we analyze next! Stay real, fakers. #TheInvite #OliviaWilde #SethRogen #IntimacyCoordinator Sources for this Episode's Research Boston.com Time interview with Wilde SAG interview Seth Rogen interview on Jimmy Kimmel IMDB Deadline Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

    The Invite: Consent, Chemistry & Couple Swapping
  2. Aug 12 ·  Bonus Video

    Fifty Shades of Grey [PLAYBACK]

    Two intimacy coordinators break down the sex scenes in Fifty Shades of Grey and explain what the film gets wrong about BDSM. In their PLAYBACK series, the cohosts revisit two fan-favorite episodes from The Hoa Hoa Universe while Ariel and Morgan take their summer break. They’ll be back in September with new episodes of Faking It. Ariel and Morgan break down the infamous first Red Room scene. What was supposed to be mainstream BDSM became basically vanilla, questionable choreography, and music doing the heavy lifting. In this episode: Why the Red Room reads more like spectacle than negotiated intimacyHow the film confuses dominance with control and intensity with compatibilityHow music, montage, and production design work overtime to create heat that isn't really thereWhat a more grounded, informed, and sexier version of this scene could have looked likeWhy Christian Grey is a disappointing Dom and loverA filmmaker's lens on consent and power dynamics This episode isn't about kink-shaming. It's about unpacking why a movie that centered BDSM failed to show how consent, agency, and erotic tension actually function in practice. It's part critique, part craft analysis, and part public service announcement for anyone who thinks vibes count as communication. Watch along timestamp: Red Room scene: 1:22:10 – 1:29:34Subscribe for bi-weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes. Credits Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) | Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson | Focus Features Hashtags #FiftyShadesOfGrey #BDSM #RedRoom #IntimacyCoordinator #FilmBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

    Fifty Shades of Grey [PLAYBACK]
  3. Jul 29 ·  Video

    Off Campus: The Greenest Green Flag in TV?

    Consent can be hot. Who knew? (Us. We knew.) In this episode, two intimacy coordinators break down the sex and relationship scenes in Off Campus — and ask whether it's really the greenest green flag on TV. What starts as a classic hockey romance somehow turns into one of the healthiest, hottest conversations about intimacy we've seen on screen. Together, they discuss why this scene works so well, how consent builds chemistry instead of killing it, and why emotional safety might actually be the sexiest thing a character can bring to the bedroom. In this episode:  How Off Campus approaches sex after sexual assault experiences Why awkward and silly can be incredibly sexy  The filmmaking choices that sell emotional intimacy  Ariel's very STRONG opinions about the show's nudity choices  Three completely ridiculous ways we'd ruin the scene When foreplay becomes... fiveplay? Sixplay? Plus, they kick things off with a spicy industry rant about fake intimacy coordinators, why proper training matters, and why "straight to penetraysh" is almost always the wrong answer.  Scene discussed: Off Campus Season 1, Episode 4 ("The Breakup"), approximately 13:34–21:05. Credits Off Campus (Season 1, Episode 4: "The Breakup") | Based on the novels by Elle Kennedy | Created by Louisa Levy | Showrunners: Gina Fattore & Louisa Levy | Directed by Samantha Bailey | Intimacy Coordinator: Katherine Kadler | Starring Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli Hashtags #OffCampus #RomanceTV #IntimacyCoordinator #BehindTheScenes #TVBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

    Off Campus: The Greenest Green Flag in TV?
  4. Jul 15 ·  Video

    Obsession (2025): The Horror of Non-Consent | Intimacy & Stunt Coordinator Jen Albert

    Intimacy coordinators Ariel and Morgan are joined by Obsession's own intimacy and stunt coordinator Jen Albert to break down the 2025 horror film's most disturbing intimacy, violence, and non-consent scenes. Together, they explore how Obsession evolved from script to screen, where the line between stunt coordination and intimacy coordination begins and ends, and why one of the film's most unsettling moments is terrifying without relying on gore. In this episode:  Why the infamous bedroom scene is so disturbing  How intimacy coordination differs from stunt coordination  The theatrical cut vs. the streaming cut  Behind-the-scenes stories from filming Obsession Bloody dolls, Sugar glass, and Foam Bricks How actor collaboration and rehearsal shaped the final scenes When horror and intimacy collide Plus, Jen shares what changed from the original script, how the cast approached portraying non-consent, and what really went into filming the movie's iconic brick scene. Scenes discussed: Obsession (2025), approximately 44:46–45:32 and 1:36:56–1:37:24. Subscribe for behind-the-scenes breakdowns of film and television's most iconic intimacy scenes. Credits Obsession (2025) | Written & Directed by Curry Barker | Starring Inde Navarrette, Michael Johnston, Megan Best | Intimacy Coordinated and Stunt Coordinated by Jen Albert Hashtags #Obsession #HorrorMovies #IntimacyCoordinator #StuntCoordinator #FilmPodcast Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

    Obsession (2025): The Horror of Non-Consent | Intimacy & Stunt Coordinator Jen Albert
  5. Jul 1 ·  Video

    Pose: Directing Intimacy & Queer Love | Co-Creator Steven Canals

    Two intimacy coordinators sit down with Pose co-creator Steven Canals to break down how the FX series directed intimacy, queer love, and its groundbreaking sex scenes. They discuss how the scene evolved from script to screen, the challenges of directing intimacy before the role of intimacy coordinator was fully established, and why portraying queer love with tenderness, not spectacle, mattered so deeply. In this episode: The collaborative process between director, actors, and intimacy coordinatorBalancing choreography with actor freedom and authenticityHow intimacy coordination has evolved over the past decadeWhy queer intimacy deserves the same emotional depth as any love storyThe importance of consent, vulnerability, and trust in intimate storytellingA filmmaker's lens on queer intimacy Plus, Steven shares behind-the-scenes stories from making POSE, reflects on the show's lasting cultural impact, and tells us exactly how he'd ruin his own scene if he had to. Scene discussed: POSE Season 2, Episode 8 ("Revelations"), approximately 3:38–5:47. Subscribe for weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes. Credits POSE (Season 2, Episode 8: "Revelations") | Creators: Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy | FX (2019) Hashtags #PoseFX #QueerTV #QueerIntimacy #IntimacyCoordinator #TVBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

    Pose: Directing Intimacy & Queer Love | Co-Creator Steven Canals
  6. Jun 24 ·  Bonus Video

    Sense8 Finale: Going Out with a (Cluster) Bang [Bonus]

    In this bonus episode, two intimacy coordinators break down the orgy scene from the Sense8 series finale — how it was choreographed and why it remains one of the most ambitious intimacy sequences ever filmed. From choreography and consent practices to lighting, camera movement, and the challenge of coordinating a massive ensemble scene, they break down how the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski created a sequence that feels emotional, sensual, and deeply connected rather than purely explicit. In this episode: Why foreplay matters for the audience, not just the charactersThe logistics of coordinating large-scale intimacy scenesBoundary-setting techniques, including touch mapping and traffic-light systemsWhy scenes of this scale require multiple intimacy coordinatorsThe importance of diversity, representation, and body variety in intimate storytellingA filmmaker's lens on ensemble intimacy Then, as always, they hand out their Spice Scale scores before completely ruining the scene with some truly terrible creative notes. Scene discussed: Sense8 finale special, approximately 2:21:00 – 2:26:00. Subscribe for weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes. Credits Sense8 (Season 2, Episode 12: "Amor Vincit Omnia") | Creators: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski | Netflix (2018) Hashtags #Sense8 #Wachowski #BehindTheScenes #IntimacyCoordinator #TVBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

    Sense8 Finale: Going Out with a (Cluster) Bang  [Bonus]
  7. Jun 17 ·  Video

    Sense8: The Psychic Orgy | How the Cluster Sex Scenes Got Made

    Two intimacy coordinators break down the famous psychic orgy from Sense8 and explain how the cluster sex scene was actually made. From gym workouts and hot tubs to morning cuddles and group intimacy across continents, they're unpacking what makes this sequence so memorable and why it still feels unlike anything else on TV. They get into it all: The surprisingly complicated consent questions that come with sharing other people's experiencesThe challenge of choreographing a massive multi-location orgy without rehearsalThe actor's experiences behind the scenes and how an intimacy coordinator could have helpedPlus: German bathhouses, intimacy coordinator wedding hacks, Britney Spears throwbacks, and an extended discussion about what happens if someone in your cluster decides to have sex during your grandmother's funeral. Want to watch along? Their reaction covers the orgy scene in Season 1 Episode 6 (Demons): 32:08-39:32.  ----------------------------------------- CREDITS — SENS8 (S1E6 "Demons") Creators: Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski; J. Michael StraczynskiDirectors: Lana Wachowski; Lilly WachowskiWriters: Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski; J. Michael StraczynskiProducers: Grant Hill; J. Michael Straczynski; Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski Actors (featured in discussed scenes): Jamie Clayton; Freema Agyeman; Miguel Ángel Silvestre; Alfonso Herrera; Brian J. Smith; Max Riemelt; Tina Desai; Doona Bae; Tuppence Middleton © 2015 Netflix / Studio JMS / Anarchos Productions / Georgeville Television. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------- It's Pride Month! Give back to your community this month by donating to some of our favorite organizations: The Trevor Project LA LGBT Center Advocates for Trans Equality Subscribe for weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes. #intimacycoordinator #tvbreakdown #behindthescenes #queertv Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

    Sense8: The Psychic Orgy | How the Cluster Sex Scenes Got Made

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Two intimacy coordinators reveal what actually happens behind the scenes of film and TV's most iconic intimate moments. We're Ariel and Morgan, two professional intimacy coordinators who choreograph sex scenes for film and TV. We pull back the curtain on how intimacy is really made—from the awkward logistics to the craft that makes it look effortless. On Faking It, we break down: Heated Rivalry: the back arch, the bed share, and why good gay sex wins over hockeyThe hottest no-contact scene in cinema history (Secretary)Why Brokeback Mountain's tent scene needed more lubeThe invisible Buffy sex scene that required flawless pantomimeBarbarella's orgasm machinePEN15's honest depiction of teenage arousal Get behind-the-scenes secrets, absurd Hollywood stories, real talk about love and sex, and a front-row seat to the art of pretending. New episodes every week. Subscribe now so you don't miss the next breakdown. Catch us on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and all podcast platforms. Follow usInstagram & TikTok: @FakingItThePodPatreon: bonus episodes and scene requestsWebsite: FakingItThePod.com

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